KEY POINTS

  • 2021 could be another strong year for Nintendo, according to experts
  • Nintendo Switch is predicted to outsell PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
  • A beefed-up 4K Switch variant is expected to come out this year

Industry experts think that 2021 is going to be another strong year for Nintendo with the hybrid console outselling Microsoft's Xbox Series and Sony's PS5 with the help of the Switch Pro.

GamesIndustry.biz released an article on Monday where three industry experts predict that the hybrid console Nintendo Switch would be this year's best-selling gaming console. Ampere Analysis' Piers Harding-Rolls and Kantan Games' Dr. Serkan Toto believe that a new Switch model would help boost the strong sales of the company. The hybrid console would sell around 24 million units this year while the combined sales of PS5 and Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S would only be around 25 million units, Harding-Rolls forecast.

Last year, Harding-Rolls was not convinced that the Japanese gaming giant would launch the rumored Switch Pro. But now, he thinks the rumored Switch variant could make commercial sense, noting that he has included it in his 2021 forecasts. His optimism on the launch of a new Switch variant is backed by Katan Games Analyst Toto.

The US International Trade Commission announced an investigation in Nintendo's hugely popular Switch devices over alleged patent infringement
The US International Trade Commission announced an investigation in Nintendo's hugely popular Switch devices over alleged patent infringement AFP / Behrouz MEHRI

According to him, Nintendo would release a beefed-up 4K Switch variant in its next financial year, which commences in April 2021. Interestingly, while all three experts agree that 2021 would be a strong year for Nintendo, Mat Piscatella of NPD Group believe that the sales would be driven up by "content and promotional efforts" rather than the release of a new iteration.

Rumors about the launch of the Switch Pro have been rife since 2020. Several outlets reported that Nintendo is planning to introduce a more powerful Switch with 4K graphics support. However, in a recent interview with Polygon, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said that the company's focus is on the existing form factors.

It is worth noting that these are industry experts' predictions and forecasts about Nintendo's sales for this year. With the company downplaying rumors about an imminent Switch revamp, fans should temper their expectations and take this information with a pinch of salt.

Nintendo Switch was released in March 2017 while the Switch Lite was released in September 2019.

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